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Companies in the University at Buffalo's new tax-free zone are working on some innovative projects. One is designing eyeglass software that can alert industrial workers to emergencies and is described as a traffic light for the face. Another is working on a drug to treat traumatic brain injuries, and yet another is inventing a better device to help doctors remove problem ear wax.

Meanwhile, outside the zone, others are devoting their powers of innovation to finding ways to exploit the daylights out of New York's latest big tax break program.

Companies that are accepted into Start-Up NY zones pay no business, corporate, income, sales, property or franchise taxes for 10 years. Long before the state spent $15 million advertising the program, hundreds of companies had expressed interest.

To qualify, they must be linked with a college and located on or "near" that college's campus. Next week, the University of Rochester will announce the committee of faculty and staff who will be responsible for selecting from among the 73 businesses that have asked for tax-free status. Let us hope that at least one is a history professor who remembers a little bit about the abuse that similar programs have seen.

Often cited is the Empire Zone program, which began with the noble goal of encouraging development in poor census tracts. Businesses that invested in these zones could get tax breaks.

It didn't take long for business owners to figure out how to get the zones' borders expanded to include flourishing businesses in rich suburbs. One particularly creative mall owner figured out how to get more Empire Zone tax credits than he actually paid in taxes, and taxpayers actually ended up paying him.

The state eventually closed the Empire Zone program to new applicants, although it has found it difficult to rescind the benefits. And it has promised that this shiny new tax-giveaway program won't balloon into an expensive mockery of its original intent.

For example, there are provisions to prevent companies from faking job creation by simply rehiring existing employees. And the state will be allowed to "claw back" benefits from companies that have been dishonest.

It is too late to debate the effectiveness of skewing the tax system to give some of New York's businesses a major competitive advantage while leaving others in tax hell. Or to ask whether it is fair to create an elite class of business owners and workers who are exempt from all taxes. (After the first five years, they will have to pay taxes on income over $200,000.)

At this point, taxpayers can only hope the state really is serious about enforcing the parameters of the program.

There are certainly some business people who simply dream of making products that will improve the world. There are many others who simply dream of making money, for themselves. Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to help them.